Improvement in treating faraffine and obtaining it in crystals



F. LAMBE.

} Treating Paraffine.

N0. 102,135. Patented Aoril 19. 1870.

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ilinitrd glam pawn dtfljiira FREDERICK LAMBE, OF LONDON, ENG-LAND.

Letters Patent No. 102,135, dated April 19, 1870; patented in England December 4, 1868.

mrnovsmnu'r m 'rn'narme' PARAI'I'INE AND OBTAINING :r m cnYs'fALs.

The Schedule referred to in these Letter: Patent-and making part of the lame.

To all whom it may concern F. Lambs, and J. Forded, but of which I wastheinventor; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings making part of this specification.

Objective.

This invention relates to a novel mode of treating and purifying parafi ine in the condition of loose crystals, the object being to expedite and economize the operations of separating the crystals from the fluid with which they may be naturally or otherwise associated, and of washing and drying the crystals.

To this end I first submit the mixture of paraffine and oil to the action of a centrifugal apparatus, acting on the principle of what is -known as the hydro-extractor, by which meansthe solid parafiineis separated from the oil, the parafiine being retained within the apparatus, and the liquid or oil passing away through the pervious sides of the same, in obedience to the centrifugal law.

Drglwmgs.

Figure 1 is aside View of the apparatus. Figure 2 a transverse vertical section.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the difi'erent views.

In fig. 2 the pervious periphery, shown at A A, I form as an innerlining to a rotating tight vessel or case'B, which is carried by a vertical shaft, 0, mounted in suitable bearings. This case B serves to retain the liquid in the rotary portion of the apparatus while the washing is taking place.

-D is a fixed casing inclosiug the vessel 13, and carrying'the top-bearing for the central shaft 0.

The case D is closed atthe top, but it hasau opening, D, at bottom, through which the contents of the vessel are, from time to time discharged. It is also provided with doors, D to allow of access tothe taps or valves a a, with which the vessel B is furnished near its lower edge for discharging the liquid at intervals, as found desirable.

Mounted upon the central shaft 0 is a sleeve shaft, E; fitted with radial arms, which carry blades that are set parallel to and -imsuch position as to clear the pervious periphery, ovei 'which they rotate, of adhering crystals without rubbing the periphery A.

These blades receive an independent rotary motion througha cone pulley, which allows of the adjustment of the driving-strap G, fig. 1, to alter the speed of rota.- tion as maybe desired.

The strap H, fig. 1, gives motion to the central shaft and to the vessel which itcarries. The machine is fed previous to commencing the washing of the parafiine through a pipe, F, fig. 1, supplied from a reser-. voir above, and as the operation proceeds fresh naphtha. is admitted from time to time to the vessel B by the pipe F, figs. 1 and 2.

The action of the machine'will be to drive the liquid through the crystals, which will be kept in constant agitation, and'so sood as the taps a a are opened and the liquid is allowed to escape, it,w'i1l be expelled from the vessel B, and, collecting at the bottom of the case D, will run out at D".

A fresh supply isthen to be admitted, and the washing is then to be repeated. After the washing has been continued a sufficient time, and'the naphtha, petroleum, spirit, or other solvent, has been driven ofi by centrifugal action, hot water or steam, or hot air, may be admitted which, melting the crystal, will allow of the parafline being run 01f from the apparatus 'in a liquid state.

The paraifine is then to be freed from all trace of naphthaby steam,'and finished in the usual manner.

The crystals of paraffine, which have been separated from the oil, or loose crystal obtained from any source or in any stage of purity, I now subject to repeated washings in cold naphtha, petroleum, spirit, oranyother liquid capable of dissolving or taking up the impurity by which the parafline is more or less accompanied.

After each washing of the crystals I separate the solid parafliine from the liquid, by preference by means of the centrifugal apparatus shown at fig. 2, or the separation may be efiected by filtration or pressure,

but if pressure is used, and it is intended to wash the crystals again, such slight pressure only must be used as will allow of the crystals being easily separated one from another in the subsequent washing. This washing with cold solvents may be repeated as frequently as may be necessary.

The centrifugal apparatus I employ is preferably so arranged that fresh portions of the solvent liquid may be added without first removing the paratfine' from the apparatus. In practice I find the best mode of procedure, when refining the ordinary crude parafline of commerce, to be as follows:

I take crude parafiine, and having melted it in a suitable vessel, I allow the mechanical impurities to.

subside, and then run off the liquid clarified parafljnc into another vessel, where I add to it an equal quantity of naphtha, or other like solvent, and having well stirred them together I allow the mixture to cool. When the mixture has cooled the crystals will be found to be well defined. I then force the mixture through the meshes of a coarse sieve, so as to break up any lumps of cohering crystals, and afterwards t1 ansfer it to the centrifugal apparatus. After separating the liquid, I add to the crystals remaining in the machine about sixtyper cent. of naphtha,'and stir them well together so as to wash the crystals thoroughly. The naphtha, is then separated as before, and this operation, with fresh portionsof naphtha, is continued until the crystals are sufliciently white and pure.

In order to economize the-quantity of naphtha, the naphtha used in the final washing is used again and again for washing the crystals in a less advanced stage of purification, and after it has been used in each stage of washing it is mixed with the melted crude paraifine, instead of clean naphtha. v

By this method of washing the parafline crystals with cold menstrua, and separating the same from the liquid by the centrifugal apparatus, great economy and expedition are attained over all other processes at present in use. When volatile liquids are used in washing the parafline, as described, it is'desirable to carry'on the operation in closed vessels, to avoid the loss of the volatile material and danger by fire.

What I claim as my improvement, and. desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The mode of treating and purifying parafiine as above described.

2. The revolving blades or heaters, and pervious periphery A, in combination with the case D, arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set fort-h.

FREDERICK LAMBE.

Witnesses J. H. BURRlDG-E, W. H; BUBRIDGE. 

